Eggplants used in National Gallery exhibit stolen despite clear signs erected that warn against touching, Lifestyle News
NGS on Aug 1 did not say how many of the purplish fruits have been pilfered, but said in response to The Straits Times' queries that clear signage have been erected to warn visitors against touching the installation.
Gallery staff conduct regular inspections of the work to maintain its integrity, NGS said. Its statement also acknowledged that the wall-mounted work, which makes tangible the futile performance of patriarchy in social spaces, has aroused unusual curiosity and enthusiasm.
'We've observed that many visitors enjoy engaging with Still Life by taking photos and experiencing it up close, and we hope this interest continues in a respectful way,' it said. 'We kindly seek the public's cooperation in preserving the artwork so that everyone can enjoy it in its intended form.'
Still Life, part of NGS' revamped Singapore art history exhibition, Singapore Stories: Pathways And Detours In Art, has been a lightning rod for public debate since its installation in July, jutting out into the walkway outside DBS Singapore Gallery three on the museum's second floor.
Part of curators' efforts to make better use of 'transitional spaces', its siting in the extra-gallery space is also a nod to the work's original context in 1992, when Victor stuck 100 brinjals onto three black walls outside Parkway Parade to get workers trudging to the office in the morning to 'wake up'.
Since its launch, it has attracted widespread attention, with online debate particularly focused on the perceived food wastage. The brinjals are meant to be regularly replaced after their organic decomposition throughout the exhibition period for the next couple of years.
NGS has since said that all eggplants will go to non-profit organisation Ground-Up Initiative for composting in their community farm.
Victor on Aug 1 told ST that she hoped the public would go beyond this 'essentialising way' of viewing art 'that is ignorant'.
Still Life's genesis in 1992 is pre-eggplant emoji, and pre-Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's now infamous but provocative work Comedian, of a fresh banana duct-taped to a wall.
'The eggplants are composed in a very deliberate way. It was the beginning of my interest in kinetics and performance,' Victor, considered one of Singapore's most important performance art pioneers and co-founder of 1990s art space 5th Passage, told ST. 'They try to defy gravity, but ultimately, gravity gets them. They are failing in a very profound sense.'
She also said the eggplants are each hand-painted with meticulous attention paid to their colour and glossiness. 'The thinking behind the work is also very much about their materiality. One of the most beautiful responses to the eggplant was when [performance artist] Tang Da Wu came and did this dance to articulate the spaces between the plants.'
There have been other instances in Singapore where art has been vandalised, though this usually happens with public art outside galleries. In 2014, Casey Chen's Prosperity Tunnel along the underground linkway between Jurong Point and Boon Lay Bus Interchange, comprising wallpaper and stickers printed with images of currency notes, had a 30cm by 30cm portion extracted by a member of the public.
In 2000, Felicia Low's Dragon outside Chinatown Complex went entirely missing and parts of it was discovered in a rubbish dump a block away. There was likewise a misunderstanding of value: Cheap epoxy parts forming the dragon's body were stolen while the costlier acrylic mirror panels were left behind.
ALSO READ: Man returns stolen Jinro toad statue to restaurant after CCTV footage emerges
This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
He studied architecture to chase childhood dream of designing an NDP stage
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Architectural assistant Kenneth Chiang with NDP stage replicas he made, from 2009 (left), 2011 (right), and a scale model of the Padang he modelled and 3D-printed. SINGAPORE – Much like how people have the names of their favourite sports idols, movie stars or music artistes at their fingertips, Mr Kenneth Chiang can rattle off the names of National Day Parade (NDP) show segment creative directors by the year. As he does so, the architectural assistant offers short and at times unprompted commentaries on their shows, underscoring his fixation with Singapore's biggest annual production. It is unsurprising, then, that Mr Chiang – who has a 3D-printed scale model of the Padang complete with NDP bleachers and self-designed performance stage in his bedroom – dreams of one day being an NDP creative director. Since 2009, the self-professed NDP die-hard fan has watched the parade live on site at least once every year – including National Education shows and previews – missing just two editions during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Mr Chiang, 30, has already caught NDP 2025 at the Padang thrice, thanks to tickets from friends who know of his fascination with the parade. He has never been successful in the NDP ticket ballot, despite taking part every year. He said that since the early 2000s, when NDP creative directors were selected from the local arts scene, the storytelling of NDP shows has been much stronger, with a coherent narrative across the acts of each year's show segment. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar To say Singapore's annual birthday bash has had an impact on Mr Chiang's life is an understatement. In 2012, he chose to study architecture to fulfil a childhood dream of one day designing the NDP show stage – a step he hopes will eventually lead to him becoming the parade's creative director. Mr Chiang recalls a meeting with veteran show stage designer Randy Chan in 2011 that changed his life. Mr Kenneth Chiang (left) and NDP 2011 stage and set designer Randy Chan at a National Education show in July 2011. PHOTO: KENNETH CHIANG While watching an NDP National Education show at the now-demolished The Float @ Marina Bay in July that year, Mr Chiang – then 15 – saw Mr Chan in the stands out of the corner of his eye. Mr Chiang, spurred on by his friends, tapped Mr Chan on the shoulder. 'I love your work. I think what you do is damn cool,' Mr Chiang recalled saying to Mr Chan, the principal of architectural practice Zarch Collaboratives. That night, Mr Chiang left Marina Bay with Mr Chan's name card – which he got him to autograph – and an invitation to chat in Mr Chan's office. At Zarch's former office in Selegie, Mr Chan had an employee show Mr Chiang a model of the NDP 2011 stage that he had designed. The NDP 2011 stage (left) featured many smaller cubic spaces that could hold performers. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO 'It was the coolest thing ever,' said Mr Chiang. 'He told me, if you want to do the NDP stage, you need to study architecture. That is the condensed story of how I got into architecture – through the 'NDP route'.' If recent design competition results are anything to go by, Mr Chiang's goal of at least designing the NDP stage one day is no pipe dream. In the past year, he topped two ideas competitions organised by the authorities – one for Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the other for Jurong Bird Park and Jurong Hill – proving his design chops. Mr Chan, 55, said the chance encounter with Mr Chiang in Marina Bay is etched in his memory. 'It lasted no more than 10 minutes, but it was magical. My family were seated nearby and they were surprised I had a fan,' said Mr Chan, who has designed five NDP stages since 2004. 'I told him to keep up the dream and to enjoy chasing it,' he said. By the time he enrolled in Singapore Polytechnic to study architecture in 2012, Mr Chiang had made models of about 10 stages – some of them replicas of NDP and other performance stages, others self-designed. A model of architect Randy Chan's NDP 2011 stage that Mr Chiang made when he was 16. PHOTO: KENNETH CHIANG The first of these was made in 2006, said Mr Chiang, who was then a Primary 5 pupil and was inspired by platforms that rose out of the NDP 2005 stage. It was on one of these platforms that singer Taufik Batisah and actress-singer Rui En stood as they performed Reach Out For The Skies in that year's finale. 'As a young kid watching, I wondered, 'How on earth did they make that happen?', so I spent months at home experimenting,' he said. Actress-singer Rui En and singer Taufik Batisah performing at an NDP 2005 preview at the Padang. PHOTO: ST FILE He eventually found some success with a cake tin and a toilet paper cardboard roll, and used McDonald's Happy Meal figurines as props. It was also around that time that video-sharing site YouTube was launched, allowing Mr Chiang to return home from school and rewatch NDP 2005 on demand daily, which ultimately cultivated his love for the spectacle. Chuffed by his success in re-creating the NDP 2005 stage, Mr Chiang started making more model stages, and at one point started projecting lights onto them. 'Every night I would return from school, hide in a dark room and project images on the fake stages, with figurines as props. I'd play with it for hours,' he said, adding that he took models to school to show his classmates. Mr Chiang's interest meant that his mother Judy, 65, often found him working on crafts instead of studying. 'Paper, scissors and colour pencils – those were his childhood toys,' she said. Almost two decades after making his first stage model, Mr Chiang is working at a local architectural firm and clocking requirements to be a registered architect in Singapore. Architectural assistant Kenneth Chiang holding a self-designed stage model inspired by Singapore's 60th birthday. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI He continues to dream of being an NDP show creative director, and his passion for the annual extravaganza shines through. On drives, he listens to NDP soundtracks of yesteryear, and in one look, he knows which year an NDP pack item, such as clappers or torchlights, came from. 'The NDP marries a few of my interests – a love for Singapore, theatre and live shows,' he said. 'The ultimate goal is to direct an NDP show, but stage design is something more relatable to me at the moment – from there, maybe I can make the step up.' He added: 'A good NDP stage has to fulfil the needs of the performance of that year – whether it requires a large screen or multiple levels. But I think what makes a good stage great is if it can offer something more than what the audience expects from your typical NDP stage.' Mr Chiang's collection of NDP paraphernalia includes items from as far back as 1998. PHOTO: KENNETH CHIANG As he awaits the chance to work on an NDP, Mr Chiang is happy to relive his childhood by designing and creating more stage models, including a scale model of the Padang he made in 2025. 'This is my second Padang model. 'The first was made of tissue paper boxes, and I wanted to also see how far I could push it this time, from making something rudimentary in primary school to 3D-printing something incredibly detailed now,' he said of his model, which includes details such as staircases for spectators to enter and leave the stands. For this model, Mr Chiang has also designed a projection mapping sequence that brings his model to life with motifs that represent various races in Singapore and includes tunes from the NDP 2013 soundtrack. Architectural assistant Kenneth Chiang, 30, with his model of the Padang NDP stage, illuminated by projection mapping he designed, at his home on July 19, 2025. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI Mr Chan said he is proud to see Mr Chiang grow from the 'little boy' who approached him at the float in 2011 to become an accomplished designer. 'Our meetings have been serendipitous. Winning competitions is a result of his own resilience and resourcefulness. The 2011 meeting was a moment in time and I was glad to be a part of it,' he said. 'Kenneth is doing great work, has the energy, and I am happy that he still has that idealism in him and is pursuing his passion.'
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Senior Gentlemen's Circus debuts to engage older men to stay active
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Kwan Pak Kean (far left), Mr Darren Tan (far right), and some members of the Senior Gentlemen's Circus practising their circus acts at Goodlife Studio (Telok Blangah Towers). SINGAPORE – A group of senior men gathered at the Goodlife Studio (Telok Blangah Towers) on Aug 7, transforming the active ageing centre (AAC) into a circus stage. Some were learning diabolo tricks, while others were juggling balls. Ten seniors from the Senior Gentlemen's Circus have been picking up circus acts since June as they gear up for their debut performance on Aug 24 at Mount Faber with the Telok Blangah Community Club. It is one of the ways the AAC is engaging elderly men and keeping them active. The training is held once a week for a total of 12 sessions. Mr Kwan Pak Kean, 67, a part-time lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, said that at first, it seemed difficult manipulating the diabolo – an hourglass-shaped object that is manipulated by string like a yo-yo – but the 'fun factor' kept him going. 'I haven't fully mastered the advanced tricks, but I have learnt enough to impress and train my three grandchildren,' he said. Insurance agent Darren Tan said he joined the circus due to the 'novelty effect' but kept dropping the diabolo initially. 'It took me two lessons to get the hang of it, and I have been coming to the centre to practise on top of the lessons,' said the 62-year-old bachelor. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar 'It has helped to improve my coordination and concentration.' Mr Lee Poh Wah, the chief executive of Lien Foundation, which brought the programme to the AAC, said circus acts offer a rich blend of physical challenge, mental focus and social connection. 'Senior men continue to remain on the margins of our social care and preventative healthcare system,' he told The Straits Times. 'Through our various programmes, we see that senior men respond better to activities that tap past passions, rekindling youthful energy and inviting them back into the centre of community life.' The philanthropic organisation has commissioned other activities like magic, rock climbing , e-sports, a music band and the yo-yo as part of its Seniors Go! programmes, which have allowed seniors since 2022 to explore activities rarely associated with ageing. In 2024, the Lien Foundation supported the Silver Pride Lion Troupe, Singapore's first senior lion dance troupe, at Fei Yue Active Ageing Centre (Holland Close). The troupe was awarded the President's Design Award 2025's Design Of The Year. The foundation also pioneered Gym Tonic in 2015, which focuses on strength training for seniors. There are currently 29 sites serving about 5,200 users annually. They range from 55 to 97 years old, with an average age of 71 for women and 73 for men. Mr Jay Che, the principal instructor of Circus in Motion, said this is the first time he is running a workshop for seniors with no prior experience in circus acts. He and his team have curated acts that are low impact for seniors, including juggling, diabolo, plate spinning and the poi. 'These activities have also been shown to induce changes in brain structure by increasing grey matter in areas linked to visual motion processing and sensory-motor integration,' he said. The seniors' circus coach, Mr Edward Chua, said one of the challenges the elderly face would be the fear of getting injured. 'Seniors may hold back, concerned about hitting themselves or strains, especially during more complex tricks with the diabolo,' he said. Another challenge would be their mental focus. 'Juggling may demand quick thinking and multitasking, which are skills that become harder with age,' he said. 'Seniors must focus on multiple objects in motion and process visual cues at a fast pace, which can be quite taxing.' Ms Ang Ying Xuan, senior programme executive at Goodlife Studio (Telok Blangah Towers), said it is heartening to see new friendships form among the 'uncles' who have joined the circus. 'They often hang out after class for a coffee or a game of chess, and that's something we are really glad to see,' she said. The centre will monitor their qualitative and quantitative improvements before and after the circus programme. This involves checking for improvements in their balance and memory. It is also exploring forming an interest group that can guide other seniors to learn the circus acts. Engaging male seniors Besides the circus, the AAC also organises a weekly Gentlemen's Brew event that sees senior men gather over coffee and tea at the centre. The proportion of male seniors at the centre has increased from 14 per cent in April to 24 per cent, or 54 men. There are 226 active seniors, and the current ratio is around one man to four women. 'Many of our programmes tend to attract more female participants, which can sometimes make the male seniors hesitant to join, especially for activities with a strong social element,' Ms Ang said. 'Some of the uncles may feel less comfortable mingling in larger mixed-gender groups, which is why we're always exploring ways to create more male-friendly spaces and activities that feel welcoming and relevant to them.' The Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) told ST that one in three seniors engaged across all AACs is male. Many AACs are organising male-centric activities to engage male seniors. For example, NTUC Health AACs run various physical and social male-exclusive programmes to address social isolation among elderly men. Male seniors gather weekly for Let's Lim Kopi to trade stories and connect with one another over coffee and snacks, while Let's Steel Combat engages male participants in simple martial arts. Let's Go Man!, a collaboration between Touch Community Services and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, organises activities such as memory games and walking soccer for male seniors to promote physical, cognitive and social well-being. At Allkin's AAC in Pasir Ris, the Men's Club is a senior-led group where male seniors take charge – planning and running their own activities, from cycling to chess to even repair work. Many also volunteer to accompany frail or less mobile neighbours so they can participate too. This ground-up model has since expanded to two AACs in Ang Mo Kio, with over 70 members and tailored activities at each location. Besides joining the circus, Mr Kwan will be participating in a water-colouring class at Goodlife Studio (Telok Blangah Towers). Mr Tan, who is active at two AACs currently, said he has been attending health and digital talks. 'I hope to go on more outings around Singapore,' he said. 'Staying at home all the time is bad for health.'
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
With her friends as her eyes, this NDP dancer shines
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The TL;DR: Sherri Lim was born with a congenital eye condition that took most of her sight. With the help of her friends, this National Day, the 26-year-old Republic Polytechnic student will dance with her schoolmates at the parade. Miss Sherri Lim, 26, is a student performer from Republic Polytechnic. She is blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other. Under the glaring lights at the Padang, dancer Sherri Lim, 26, is trying to find her way to her next position as the performers make a new formation on stage. But the world around her is a blur, and she cannot make out the numbers on each marking on the floor which tell the dancers where to stand. Unlike the other performers, she is visually impaired. Another dancer takes her arm and guides her to the next position. Miss Lim is one of 400 Republic Polytechnic (RP) students who will showcase their dance and martial arts flair at 2025's National Day Parade (NDP). She is part of an 11-minute dance routine fusing hip-hop and traditional dance styles. The Year 3 information technology student was born blind in one eye and partially sighted in the other. She has a rare congenital eye condition called Peters anomaly, which causes clouding of the cornea and blurred vision. This means she cannot see anything clearly around her, even her laptop, except when she leans in close to the screen. She chooses to rely on her hearing at school instead of using visual aids, and can navigate mostly independently by memory. But performing is a different beast. Throughout the act, dancers must make 17 formations in complex shapes, without any obvious spaces between performers. Miss Lim said: 'Every (rehearsal) day is a new stage for me, especially when the lighting is on us. I cannot see anything at all.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar Still, she volunteered to perform at the NDP to make more memories with her CCA (co-curricular activity) friends. 'I never saw myself performing at the NDP,' she said. 'I don't know how many times I wanted to give up. But on show days every Saturday, when you step on the Padang stage, it feels very unreal.' 400 students from Republic Polytechnic will perform during Act One of the NDP. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC Dreams of performing Although this is her biggest performance so far, Miss Lim is no stranger to the stage. She has played the guzheng (a zither) in RP's Chinese Ensemble for three years, and played the liuqin (four-stringed lute) in primary school. She relies on her sense of touch and memory to play the right strings. And in 2024, she danced in public for the first time at the National Gallery as part of a visual and performing arts showcase by Project Dreamcatchers. The initiative, led by young people with chronic illnesses and the National University Hospital, was held to show people that lifelong medical conditions do not make them less able than others. 'I've liked dancing since I was young, but didn't have the opportunity to (until then),' said Miss Lim. Her favourite part, she added, was working with the choreographer to 'tell (her) life's story' through contemporary dance. So, when her school's performing arts groups were selected for NDP, Miss Lim leapt at the chance to express herself through dance again. The performance features a dance routine with hip-hop and traditional dance elements, as well as a martial arts segment. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC Guiding the way Miss Lim's wish to dance was met with support from her CCA peers and instructor. At rehearsals, the dancers clarified the steps with her, and held on to her when they changed formations. Her schoolmate Menfred Tan, 20, is one of the performers who guided her during the show. He said: 'For Sherri, we make sure she never goes alone. We ensure someone always tags along with her from the start to the end.' Mr Tan, who has played the erhu (two-string fiddle) in RP's Chinese Ensemble but has no background in dance, was eager to perform at NDP. 'From the start, there was a lot of pressure,' he said. 'It was unexplored territory for us.' Apart from showing up for rehearsal after his full-time work internship, he said the hardest part has been keeping up with the upbeat routine for all 11 minutes. 'Our energy has to be high most of the time. It is a test of our stamina, and we are drenched in sweat the whole time. 'It's not just glitter and fireworks. It's also a lot of sweat and tears.' RP student and fellow Chinese Ensemble musician Menfred Tan (centre) joined NDP despite having no experience in dance. PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC Preparing for NDP was a hard feat even for dance captain Khairatul Syahirah Kahar, 19, who has been dancing since primary school. On top of learning the steps quickly from the choreographer, she was tasked to teach almost 150 participants at a time. She recalled seeing the other dance captains' 'confused faces' when they were picking up the steps, which helped her feel less alone. 'The people around you are what keeps you motivated.' In the end, Miss Khairatul was inspired by how anyone can pick up dance, no matter when they start. 'We're all doing the same thing, dancing the same steps, wearing the same costume,' she said. That includes Miss Lim, who said she has learnt to trust her friends to teach her the right steps and lead her to the correct spots. As she performs on stage this National Day, alongside her idols such as singer Benjamin Kheng, she hopes to encourage others to pursue their passions. 'I want to show people with disabilities also can chase their own dreams,' she said. 'I want to show people that if you dare, then you can.'
